10. Investiture of the Knighthood of Honour

Investiture at the Gruner Hof

A report by „Spectator“

Pictures by Hannes Hochmuth, Michaela Matzka and Hans-Rudolf Gries

The investiture of the Knighthood of Honour was originally planned to be held at Kreuzenstein Castle but because of bad weather had also to take place at the Gruner Hof. In only one hour the organisation had to move the complete investiture from the castle to the Gruner Hof. A big thank you to all comrades who performed this logistic masterpiece.

Prelude was the ceremonial move-in of the banners of the corps, the banners of friendly organisations, the flags, the postulants, the Knights of Honour, the sword-bearer and the chapter of the Knighthood of Honour, and together with the Grand Master, the new Grand Protector of the Knighthood of Honour BM a.D. Dr. Fasslabend, all accompanied by the sound of the crusader‘s fanfare.

After the report by the Honour Commander of the Honour Guard CSLI Colonel Franz Graf to the president the ceremony commenced with the Austrian national anthem.

Protocol officer and the president‘s Aide de Camp Rudolf Murth, who led though the complete evening, welcomed the guests. There were many international guests, e.g. from Brazil, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Malta, Spain, and Lithuania. Also numerous representatives of friendly organisations and of the veteran‘s association with their banner delegations were present.

A first summit was the handing over of the CSLI Turkey banner to the ambassador for Turkey, CSLINC RAdm Ludwig Brunner, to the sound of the Turkish national Anthem.

The room was shaded and accompanied by drum roll everyone remembered the deceased comrades. The music played the song “I had a Comrade“.

This was followed by the blessing of the insignia by Parson Mag. Marek Ferenc.

Opened by the march “Oh, du mein Österreich” now the president addressed the audience.

Grand Master Senator h.c. Steinhardt emphasised his pleasure to have won Dr. Fasslabend for the office of the Grand Protector and addressed him with the plea to watch the LAZARUS UNION and to weigh in whenever necessary.

The actual begin of the investiture ceremony was the ceremonial inauguration of the new Grand Protector of the Knighthood of Honour, BM a.D. Dr. Werner Fasslabend.

In front of the assembled Knights of Honour, postulants, and all present he vowed by his honour:

to protect and foster the Lazarus Union and its Knighthood of Honour as Grand Protector.

I will not allow that harm is done to the Lazarus Union and its Knighthood of Honour, neither from the inside nor from the outside!

and took the insignia of his new dignity: the coat, the chain of office and the staff of Office.

The new Grand Protector Dr. Fasslabend, also a founding member of the LAZARUS UNION and until now highest-ranking Collar Knight of Honour, mentioned in his address the honour and duty he connects with this office and promised to be always at the disposition of the LAZARUS UNION.

The “Lazarus Union March” was the link to the next summit of the investiture.

The ambassador for Turkey CSLINC VAdm Ludwig Brunner was appointed Grand Prefect of the Knighthood of Honour for Turkey, to be able to act in future in his operational area by proxy of the Grand Master.

Ambassador Brunner also vowed his oath of office as Grand Prefect for the operational area Turkey:

To promote and represent the LAZARUS UNION and its Knighthood of Honour in all conscience.

I vow loyalty towards the chapter and the Grand Master as I am called and elected as his direct representative in my operational area.

I will not allow that harm is done to the Lazarus Union and its Knighthood of Honour, neither from the inside nor from the outside!

This I promise in front of all of you by my honour, and in humbleness I accept the chain of office as visible sign of my office and my position.

Then he received the insignia of his new office from the Grand Master.

After these two exceptional acts the actual investiture followed, the appointment of eight postulants to Knights resp. Dames of Honour of the LAZARUS UNION.

Each postulant was called individually and the Grand Master asked the postulant the following questions:

“I ask you therefore, before the assembled congregation: Do you of your own free will as … … .. (here the rank and position to which the candidate is to be commissioned is used) want to belong to our community and accept our mission?“ and “Are you aware what it means to be a member of this community?”

After answering with “I want it with all my heart!” and “Yes, I am!” the candidates received the insignia of their new dignity: the sword from Grand Marshal Chev. Ewald Angetter, the mantle from Grand Knight and member of the board Col. ret. Adolf H. Neidhart. The Grand Protector Dr. Fasslabend the put the Knight‘s Cross around their neck (handed to him by the Grand Master). After this the Grand Master presented the new knight resp. dame to the audience while the fanfare was sounded.

The ceremony came to an end with the “Gebet aus dem österreichischen Zapfenstreich” followed by the prayer of the Grand Master (Saint Francis Prayer) together with the parson of Leobendorf Mag. Marek Ferenc.

The farewell address by the protocol officer and the Grand Master finally closed the ceremony. Manuela Murth and Reinhard Kittenberger set a musical end to the investiture with the “Farewell Song“.

After the music piece “The last Post“ the commander of the Guard of Honour reported the closure of the ceremony to the Grand Protector who commanded decampment. On the marching-out the banners of the various delegations received a beautiful remembrance pennant out of the hands of Mrs. Martina Fasslabend and Mrs. Brigitte Brunner.

Our special thanks once again go to the “knights“ from Prima Nocte, Milites Sancti Imperii and Armani Domini who acted once more as our standard bearers.